He points out that in the last 22 years, there have been precisely 22 times in which a QB threw for 400+ yards on 30+ attempts with a 65%+ completion percentage and a 10+ YPA and won the game. Every single QB on the list had either already made a Pro Bowl, or would make the Pro Bowl in the future. Flynn accomplished this feat against the Lions.

I'm not sure about that. Wallace doesn't have to sign an offer sheet from another team if he doesn't want to, so even if the 49ers or whoever make some giant, front-loaded offer designed to fuck the steelers and take Wallace, Wallace and his agent probably just shop it to the Steelers.

It looks to me like they're convinced-to a moral certainity-that someone is making a big play for Wallace.

Well, they need to get under the cap regardless. Plus, they need to get younger in the front seven so yes they are making room to sign Wallace but I think these moves should have been made regardless. Aaron Smith and Farrior are either old, often-injured, or both. Hines Ward is done too.

Well, they need to get under the cap regardless. Plus, they need to get younger in the front seven so yes they are making room to sign Wallace but I think these moves should have been made regardless. Aaron Smith and Farrior are either old, often-injured, or both. Hines Ward is done too.

I see your point and I don't think the Steelers are doing anything wrong but they're cutting a lot of guys in a hurry (they also dumped Keamoeatu)--they've ditched four guys who have started a ton of games in two days. You don't see that too often.

I see your point and I don't think the Steelers are doing anything wrong but they're cutting a lot of guys in a hurry (they also dumped Keamoeatu)--they've ditched four guys who have started a ton of games in two days. You don't see that too often.

Quite true. Farrior has played in all but 6 games during his 10 years in Pittsburgh. Smith, on the other hand, has only played in 15 games over the last 3 years.

Much like the Pats, the Steelers aren't afraid to move on from aging vets, and it's one of the reasons for their long term sustained success.

All of these moves were projected and expected. Everyone knew McFadden, Kemoeatu, Smith, one of Farrior/Foote, and Ward (unless vet min) would have to go at a minimum, Hampton will have to be dealt with similarly (paycut/restructure). The org knowingly went into cap hell keeping the group together for another shot at the title. It didn't work and now they'll have to continue building through the draft until the raised salary cap lets them breathe a little more.

Best to get all the purging of the vets out of the way in one swoop.

Best way to keep Wallace is under a long term deal, which if they clear enough space they can do. They may be able to keep Wallace and re-sign Cotchery, Cotch was an asset in the second half. Wallace has made the right noises about staying, while also making the public statements to give himself leverage. The Rooneys want him to stay, if he wants to stay it'll happen.

If the Steelers were convinced of someone trying to pry Wallace then they should go with the franchise tag instead of a simple restricted free agent tender.

There are reasons to go both ways. Using the tag locks him up for 2012, no question about that, but it gives you a 2013 issue (you have to tag him for $12 million or let him go), and for a cap-strapped team like the steelers it effectively knocks them out of free agency. With the restricted tender you have cap flexibility until about a week after Wallace signs the tender, you have more options for signing him long term (he presumably signs the franchise tag if he gets tagged), and if someone does offer him an outlandish offer that you'll never ever match, at least you get a first.

EDIT: Another small point is that you could spread out some of the cap hits between '12 and '13 if you waited until June 1. they're not doing that; they want (and need) the money right now. And even after the moves they've made so far they're still just at the cap (per Steelers Depot they're at about $117.5 million right now including RFA tenders, and a lot of people are pointing at a $120 million cap plus $1.5 million extra in allowable borrowing from future cap years). They have to make a bunch of additional moves to franchise Wallace

ha, that's dumb. Lynch is a league average runner, unless the Hawks are shitting money why bother tagging him unless you're just buying time.

Agreed. He finished 32nd in yards per carry among qualified players last year. He was 12th in DVOA. He was 26th in success rate. I'm not sure he's a materially better back than BJGE. And Pats fans would go batshit crazy if the Pats franchised the Firm.

The org knowingly went into cap hell keeping the group together for another shot at the title. It didn't work and now they'll have to continue building through the draft until the raised salary cap lets them breathe a little more.

Amazing that the Pats have had their run of success without ever having to go through this.

I don't remember them being in salary cap hell in 2002, but I do know they turned over the roster quite a bit.

According to Miguel's cap page they were close but they released or traded:Drew Bledsoe - not neededTerry Glenn - without sayingRobert Edwards - no kneeAndy Katzenmoyer - no explanation needed

and a bunch of nobodies. Sure they didn't have a lot of cap room, but I don't recall the cap being a problem in 2002. I may have just had my head in the clouds after 2001 and didn't listen to negative with the team though.

I could see the Patriots kicking the tires on him for a short term contract. He's only 30, and he's still a decent deep threat. The guy averages almost 16 yards per catch for his career. He may be able to fill that Donte Stallworth type role.

I could see the Patriots kicking the tires on him for a short term contract. He's only 30, and he's still a decent deep threat. The guy averages almost 16 yards per catch for his career. He may be able to fill that Donte Stallworth type role.

I should have read the originally-quoted post more carefully (or waited until I drank my coffee before posting). I was making a joke about the team struggling for a while (i.e., one 9-win season) before being able to re-load the roster.

I don't think they've ever had to decimate the roster for salary-cap reasons in the BB era, which is likely one (of many) reasons for their consistent success.